LeadershipCoach is an executive coaching consultancy that works with senior
lawyers, practice group leaders, and other “high potential” individuals.
Stephen P. Gallagher is an
Organizational Development professional that provides the legal profession
with a broad range of coaching services directed at facilitating positive
change.

The goal of coaching is not in fixing
what is broken, but in discovering new talents and new ways to use old
talents that leads to far greater effectiveness. Coaching is partnering
with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires
them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The
profession of executive coaching is built on the concept of human
potential at work. Executive coaching is both person-centered and
system-centered. Successful coaching achieves positive change for both
the individual and the law firm.

In
times of major organizational change, executive coaching can provide the
necessary impetus for building and motivating teams. The primary reason
law firms are exploring uses of executive coaching is to improve
business results. This means increasing profits, reducing costs, or
achieving both within a defined time frame.

As more and more
baby-boomers reach traditional retirement age, law firms are facing new
challenges in dealing with this potential massive exodus of skilled talent.
Coaching can be used to help senior lawyers formulate flexible retirement plans
while working with law firm leadership to help design and implement short- and
long-range strategies.

We are facing a
shortage, not a surplus of talented lawyers, so law firms must begin to phase
out “retirement” as we know it. As a replacement, law firms need to explore how
a staged reduction in work hours and responsibilities ahead of full retirement
might work.

I have worked with literally
hundreds of senior lawyers in developing Exit or Retirement
Plans to help them tackle fresh assignments designed to offer variety
and challenge and to stimulate new skills development. Coaching can also help
law firms develop new approaches to retirement -- gaining renewed purpose in
their lives.

Law Firm Strategic Planning
Retreats

Gallagher conducts law firm
retreats that incorporates follow-up coaching to help leaders at all levels of
the organization understand that they are responsible for the work environment
they create, and that the work environment has a significant impact on whether
people will choose to be responsible and accountable. Since professionals must
first voluntarily approve and accept new accountabilities, they must agree to be
managed. Coaching offers a supporting context in which modern
responsibility-based strategy and culture can flourish.